Equilibrium

Finding it. Finding the balance of emotion and fact-based living. What works as opposed to what doesn’t. Recognizing the barriers within the public that slows problem solving. Keeping informed of the facts, extending them into logical action, solution and program. How do we handle problems as they arise? Correction, how do I handle problems as they arise?

Well, in a nutshell that’s what equilibrium is about. Do I have it in my life? Do you?

Increasingly evidence demonstrates that both I and we do not have equilibrium! I had a coach ask me the other day, what makes you anxious? My response – “Really? Climate change with countless hurricanes and 5 million acres on fire, COVID pandemic and an election involving a madman in our White House? And you ask me what bothers me? And the lack of coordination and collaboration with the states by the federal government with local governments on the verge of bankruptcy? Huh? Are those enough triggers to cause a total melt down?”

Balance indeed! Hah! Egad! Argh!

Time will help in some of this. The election will happen. Results will become known. I hope a change at the helm of our nation will be mandated, but that’s not a known at this time. forest fires will be put out or burn out. Communities will get on with the repair of their lives. But surely, winter will bring rain and snows that will cause floods and mudslides. So, another worry. Hurricane season will end, and we will lick our wounds and move on. But will we act to reduce our vulnerability to fires and storms?

The continuing saga of climate change and the havoc it wreaks is lesson enough informing us we do not work well with one another. Collaboration is one thing; cooperation is another. For God’s sake we can’t even agree to wear face masks to slow the spread of COVID!

And that’s where I’m at. Lack of concerted effort on all of our part to lessen the effects of scourges that kill, main and injure the public. Why can’t we at least do the minimum to help one another?

That is the disease of America. We have a pandemic of selfishness and ignorance. ‘Don’t bother me with your problems, and I won’t bother you with mine.’

This is all so wrong on so many levels. We have been educated, trained and raised to be better than this. Can’t we at least agree to define what we hope will be our living conditions 10 years or so in the future? Can we envision a common, pleasant life in which we all thrive? What will that entail then? What will need to change between now and then to improve our chances that a good life lies ahead?

Such a simple question. Too simple; the answer keeps getting lost in selfishness, greed, short horizons.

September 18, 2020